Yesterday, social and print media, albeit blogs, were awash with news alleging President Buhari appointed Senior Police Officer, Zanna Mohammad Ibrahim as the Acting Inspector General of Police; Among them were the “ Idoma voice ,” “ Observer times ”, “ Inside business ”,” Nairaland ”, “ metrowatchonline ” and “ thenewsguru ”; However, Garba Shehu, Senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and publicity rebuffed the claims, in a text message to Dataphyte; And finally, Zanna Ibrahim, himself was oblivious to this development, per a phone call from Dataphyte; The claim is FALSE.
Following Mohammed Adamu, former Inspector General of Police’s retirement on Monday, the rumour mill has been making continuous revolutions as to his replacement. Reputable papers, ThisDay and Vanguard also dropped their two cents on the ongoing conjecture. But as with most things, social media fanned those embers to a flame blogs caught.
Chief amongst Twitter users drinking the Zanna Kool-Aid was an acclaimed lawyer with the username ‘DEMAGOGUE PhD’ (@von_Bismack), who tweeted to his 17,000 plus followers:
Similarly, on the largest social platform, Facebook, GentleMike Oche shared a nine paragraph release to that effect at 7:50 pm, Tuesday. Mike is supposedly a Public relations officer to the Police Community Relations Committee, FCT Command if his profile is factual.
In the first paragraph of the post, he used the phrase “reportedly” to guide his readers. He further noted how the presidency had not made an official announcement, but “insiders said there had been a celebration at the Louis Edet House of his appointment”.
Verification
To ascertain the facts, Dataphyte went to the horse’s mouth. A text message sent to Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and publicity yesterday decried the allegations. He refuted claims that the president has appointed Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zanna Mohammad Ibrahim as the Acting Inspector General of Police following Mohammed Adamu’s retirement.
“Thank you. We are reading the same story in the social media”, to show the Presidency’s denial over the viral news.
In furtherance to gathering the facts, Dataphyte looked to the newly assented Nigeria Police Bill, 2020. The new Police Act stipulates that a person to be appointed IGP shall be a senior police officer not below an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).
The act also permits only the appointment of officers on DIG and AIG cadres as IGP. And by implication, President Buhari would have to choose from the current DIGs and AIGs.
With the official retirement of Mohammed Adamu, three Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and 10 Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) also retired from the Force.
Accordingly, the fight for the IG’s office remains between 33 eligible officers: five DIGs and 28 AIGs.
The eligible DIGs are Sanusi Lemu, Usman Baba, David Folayiwo, Joseph Egbunike and Moses Jitoboh.
Interestingly, Zana Ibrahim was amongst the eligible Assistant Inspector Generals, alongside Garba Umar, Bello Sadiq, Illiyasu Ahmed, Dibal Yakadi and Zaki Ahmed. Others include HH Karma, Baba Tijjani, Hafiz Inuwa, Lawal Ado, Austin Agbonlahor and Isaac Akinmoyede.
Still on the list are Dan Bature, Awuna Donald, Uba Kura, Johnson Kokumo, Murtala Usman, Maurice Abimbola, Bala Zama, Basen Dapiya, Haruna Mshelia, Aishatu Abubakar, Garba Umar, Aminu Pai, Gwandu Abubakar, Omolulu Bishi, Ajani Olasupo and Dasuki Galadanci.
But on contacting Mr Zanna, early Wednesday morning, he denied knowledge on this development.
Conclusion
From the preceding, it is evident Mr Ibahim is not the appointed IGP. Yes, he is eligible by law, but based on his testimony and information from the Presidency, the claim is FALSE.